AMMAN - No traffic was crossing the Iraqi-Jordanian border late on Sunday and the situation on the Iraqi side was "not normal", a Jordanian cabinet minister told Reuters.

"The last traffic was around 7.30 pm and border officials are saying the situation is not normal on the other side of the border," Minister of State for Media and Communication Mohammad al-Momani said.

Earlier, Iraqi Sunni gunmen had seized control of the town of Rutba, just 90 miles (145 km) east of the border with Jordan.